The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-03-10
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TODAY.
CHAPTER XIV.
4 DESPERATE DEVICE.

It is strange, but true, that. as l set
of running, felt sense Of positive
delight in at last meeting my enemies
on Straightforward, II not on equal
terms. Equal they certainly were not.
for ! was unarmed, not well acquainted
with the ground, and considerably out
Of condition from the long and en-
forced inactivity Of the last four years;
while my enemies were on their own
ground, INSCRIPTIONS, as l too well
knew. and aware that their liberty.
their lives in all probability, depended
upon my capture; and that now meant.
was convinced. my death.
Iran rashly, buoyantly, at top-speed
across the lawn. as Imagined; but the
unaccustomed quarter from which !
had started, confused me; the thick
masses ofcloud, which kept on remorse-
lessly uevouring with dense blackness
the dazzling mother-o'-pearl edges
with which the sighted moon sought to
beautify her defeat, had rolled up an
impenctrable barrier Of mysterious
darkness.
I stumbled and tripped. and ere
long, with dismay, tingcd with sense
of the ridiculous. plunged head fore
most into thick bushes, whose plant
branches tipped my face. while the
heavy autumn dew fell in shower all
about me. picked myself up, half
laughing at SO ridiculous mishap in
SO serious crisis. l looked anxiouslv
about me. Those who have never
experienced what it is to be absolutely
deprived of ones bearings, even in a
familiar spot, will have. perhaps, some
difficulty in realising tho perplexing
nature of my position. 1t Is BY no
means given to every man to carry
about a self-acting compass in his in
tcrnal consciousness. rs thick London
fog in suburban district has shown to
many clear-headed inhabitants Of
Greater London. Ridiculous as it may
seem, when had gazed about me. and
to some extent recovered from the
shock of my two falls. could come to
no other conclusion than that was
practically lost. had set of running
upon instinct. fully imagined that /
had struck across the lawn and was
making for the drive. which would have
shown me the road to safety, whatever
precautions might have been driven
to adopt by the way. But having
landed myself III some unknown bushes.
Twas fairly at loss on eAtricating my
self. The sky was dark. the earth was
shrouded in dead blackness. l could
dimly make out III only one quarter the
looming outline Of big tree. This
was no guide whatever. No tree that
had seen by daylight near Hanover
Lodge had a 1.-THE of the vague vastness,
the mysterious majesty Of the tree that
had expanded in the darkness, and as
simulated the intini,y of night.
stood collecting all my senses in
this supreme need.
Help came from the enemy.
A whistle. such as had heard as I
dropped from my prison, drew my at
tention TO one quarter of the darkness,
which. from that moment, was no long
er without form and void. / gazed
steadily Then there became visible a
dull light. as Of lamp behind thick
and partially drawn blind. This was
better than nothing. but it told me
little. There surely, was the house. but
from what side or angle Of the house
did that blurred light shinco
still waited. Nothing was r. be
gained by run in the dark. waited,
feeling more keenly than ever, now
that the excitement of the first futile
rush was over, the desperation Of my
position-the fate that awaited me if
captured.
Suddenly / became aware of a dissi-
pation of the darkness. Was it only
the effect Of anxious straining Of the
sight in the unresponsivc medium No.
The form of the clouds was again be-
coming apparent. Their Fashioned out
lines again assumed significance. Sud-
dcnlv-morc suddcnly,han I had dared
10 hopc--the dim and muillcd moonlight
renewed the time Of action for me and
for ny pursucrs. perceived that my
general idea had been correct. but that
/ l.at, failed 10 allow for the circular
form of the lawn. Once more ! set
out but. when ! WI, well out Of cover
II he shrubs. suddenly saw. within n
few wards Of me. the form Of Il man
dart apparently from the bushes. He
came straight towards me. To hesitate
was to be lost changed my cours".
Ira al him. remembered some u
the football lore of all times, and laid
him low with hack which would have
reduced his usefulness in any match for
the next week. The loud cry of '.Hclp!
which he uttered as l closed with him
told me that it was Mr.. Beaufoy whoI,
l had laid low. Almost Immediately
thick darkness again took possession OF
the scene. The light had disappeared
from the house. proceeded with eau.
ton, but, confused by the collision and
the sudden change OF direction, | was
again at loss in which direction te
proceed cautiously made my way
to the best Of my ability, towards thu
bushes, thinking that it would be safes
TO follow the line of the boundary, il
order to leave me cover If the moor
should shine brightly and give m.
pursuers 4 chance. And yet woult
rather have had light and an idea whicl
way to 60 than enjoy the horrible Sc
curity Of the darkness The railwa
was my great idea. If l could reacl
the bridge and get down by the BAN
upon the line might be saved. Blu
which way was the bridge? Student
there broke upon my ear the scream
distant railway-whistle. As If i
mockery of its promise of guidanc
and future safety it wa
echoed by the fell sound OF tina